Apparatus for the liquid treatment of fibres



March 27, 1956 J. E. CARY ETAL 2,739,470

APPARATUS FOR THE LIQUID TREATMENT OF FIBRES Filed May 2, 1952 4 Sheets-Sheet l $1 J/nuemioui. I 5 112% E5 3 Vva e/u'e 45 March 27, 1956 J. E. CARY ETAL 2,739,470

APPARATUS FOR THE LIQUID TREATMENT OF FIBRES Filed May 2, 1952 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 March 27, 1956 E J CARY r 2,739,470

APPARATUS FOR THE LIQUID TREATMENT OF FIBRES Filed May 2, 1952 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 i li and Ed e/Lie 611/1 &

March 27, 1956 J. E. CARY ETAL 70 APPARATUS FOR THE LIQUID TREATMENT OF FIBRES 4 Sheets-Sheet Filed May 2, 1952 WNW United States Patent APPARATUS FOR THEIZgJQUKD TREATMENT OF Application May 2, 1952, Serial No. 285,648

17 Claims. (631. 68-205) This invention relates to a new and improved fibre treating machine.

Following the decortication or pulp scutching of stalk type fibre plants such as ramie or for that matter any fibres after they have been initially'separated from undesirable pulp materials must undergo several treatments. One of these is a degumming process wherein the gums normally found associated with fibres are removed from the fibres in a washing process. Another necessary process in the treatment of fibres is merely a washing of the fibres after they have had their gums removed. A third process is a bleaching of the degummed and washed fibres.

It is therefore a principal object of the present fibre treating machine to provide a means for performing all of the processes such as the degumming, washing, and/ or bleaching of the decorticated fibres.

Another important object of this invention is to provide a machine for alternately holding opposite ends of fibres and treating the free ends of the fibres as desired.

Another and further important object of this invention is the provision of means for passing elongated fibres over and along an undulated belt and simultaneously and alternately gripping opposite ends of the fibres in troughs formed in adjacent undulations of the belt and floating liquids over the fibres in adjacent troughs in opposite directions.

A still further important object of this invention is to supply a fibre treating machine having a relatively wide and elongated rubber belt with an undulated upper surface over which the fibres to be treated are passed and having relatively large diameter rubber tired wheels with their circumferences concentric with the arcuate undulations and adapted to engage and hold the ends of the fibres as the fibres pass over the undulations and beneath the large diameter rubber tired wheels.

Another and further important object of this invention is to provide a fibre treating machine in which the fibres are treated by a flowing of liquid over the fibres by paddle means and the paddles arranged to move at a speed in excess of the flow of liquid thereover in order to occasion alternate flooding and lack of liquid which is constantly changing over the full length of the fibres being treated.

Still another important object of. this invention lies in the provision of roller paddle means in the form or shape of barrels whereby the paddles act within the undulations of the belt on which the fibres are being treated and act to move the liquids used in the treatment over the fibres with a minimum of friction between roller and fibres.

Another and still further important object of this invention is to supply an entire fibre treating machine wherein there are included a means for gripping and treating the fibres as they move longitudinally along an endless belt, a fluid reservoir, and means for delivering fluid from the reservoir to and over the fibres as they move along the belt surface and thence back to the reservoir for recirculation.

A still further important object of this invention is to provide combination hold down means for the fibres and the defining of belt undulations by large rubber tired wheels.

Other and further important objects and advantages will become apparent from the disclosures in the following specification and accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of the fibre-treating machine of this invention.

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the machine as shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is an end elevational view of the treating machine showing the fibre feeding end thereof.

Figure 4 is an enlarged sectional view taken on the line 44 of Figure I.

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken on theline 5-5 of Figure l and partially in diagrammatic form.

Figure 6 is a perspective view detail of one of the paddies used in floating treating liquid over fibres.

Figure 7 is a perspective view detail of a modified form of paddle.

As shown in the drawings:

The reference numeral 10 indicates generally a frame supporting structure for the fibre treating machine of this invention. The frame includes a liquid tank at the bottom thereof to form a reservoir for the treating liquid which may be for the purpose of washing the gums from the fibre stalks, bleaching the fibres, or just a clear wash for the fibres. The frame additionally comprises many structural members for carrying the many component parts of the machine. These are the vertically disposed side frame members designated as 12 on one side of the machine and designated as 13 on the other side of the machine. A major horizontally disposed side frame member 14 supplements the vertical frame members 12 and similarly a horizontal member 15 adds to the rigidity of the side frame members 13. The top of the machine includes longitudinally extending spaced apart side members 16 and 17 respectively.

As best shown in Figures 1, 2, and 5 a pair of aligned pillow block bearings 18 and 19 are mounted respectively on the horizontal side frame members 14 and 15 and are adapted to journally carry a roll 20 through the medium of the roll shaft 21. Spaced apart aligned pairs of pillow block bearings are spaced progressively-rearwardly on the frame members 14 and 15 and are designated as 22 and 23, 24 and 25, 26 and 27, 23 and 29, 3t) and 31, 32 and 33, and 34 and 35. These pairs of bearings support the transversely disposed rollers 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, and 42 respectively by their shafts d3, d4, 45, 46, 47, 48, and 49. The bearings 34 and 35 are not rigidly fastened to the frame members 14 and. 15. These particular bearings are equipped with downwardly depending brackets 257 and 258 respectively which are engaged by elongated screws 259 and 260. The screws are fixed longitudinally with respect to the frame members 14 and 15, but are permitted separate rotation. Thus, rotation of the screws causes fore and aft adjustment of the bearings 34 and 35 and thus also the end roll 42.

The parallel, journalled rollers 20, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, and 42 carry the elongated, wide, endless rubber belt 56). The belt constitutes the conveyor for moving the fibres to be treated through the machine for all the stages of fibre treatment. The belt is tightened and uniformly tensioned across its full width by operation of the screws 259 and 260 which respectively hold the bearings 34 and 35.

A ringer or squeegee roller 51 is carried on a shaft 52 which is journally supported in spaced apart arms 53 and 54 which are respectively hinged at 55 and 56 on the frame members 12 and 13. Pillow block bearings 57 and 58 are fixedly mounted on the spaced arms 53 and 54 at equal and substantial distances from their hinge connec- 2% tions for the purpose of receiving the roll shaft 52. The roller 51 rides on the top surface of the rubber conveyor belt and squeezes the liquid from the fibre as it passes between the roller and belt.

Abolt 59 is anchored at 60 on the vertical frame member 12 and passes upwardly through an aperture in the arm 53. A bolt 61 similar to the bolt 59 is positioned on the other side of the machine and is anchored at 62 on the vertical frame member 13. The bolt 61 passes upwardly through an aperture in the arm 54. Nuts 63 and 64 engage the upwardly extending ends of the bolts 59 and 61 respectively and constitute the upper holding ends for coil springs 65 and 66. The springs are positioned around the bolts 59 and 61 between the top sides of the hinged arms 53 and 54 and the bottom sides of the nuts 63 and 64. The top flight or surface of the belt 50 is identified as 67 and the bottom flight as 68 for purposes of explanation.

The frame 10 further includes longitudinally extending horizontally disposed side frame members 69 and 7 0 which are respectively positioned midway between the horizontal frame members 14 and 16 and 15 and 17. A transversely disposed angle frame member 71 extends across the top of the machine joining the tops of the vertical side frame members 12 and 13 and tying together the longitudinally extending top side members 16 and 17. Additional transverse top frame members are longitudinally spaced at intervals along the length of the machine and are identified as frame members 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, and 78. Laterally spaced apart vertically disposed angle frame members 79 and 80 are attached to the member 71 and to the members 69 and respectively. These vertical members 79 and are not full height frames, but rather are positioned entirely above the top flight 67 of the belt conveyor 50. correspondingly pairs of laterally spaced apart short vertically disposed frame members similar to the members 79 and 80 are spaced at intervals toward the end of the machine away from the stalk feeding end. These spaced pairs of frame members are 81 and .82 which are attached to the member 72, 83 and 84 which are attached to the member 73, 85 and 86 which are attached to the member 74, 87 and 88 which are attached to the member 75, 89 and 90 which are attached to the member 76, 91 and 92 which are attached to the member 77, and 93 and 94 which are attached to the member 73. It should be remembered that all of the frame members just defined are also fastened to the longitudinally extending frame members 69 and 7 0 in the same manner as the vertical frame members 79 and 80. Transverse angle frame member 95 joins the vertical frame members 79 and 80 and extends laterally to and joins with the vertical side frame member 12. Similarly transverse angle frame members are longitudinally spaced rearwardly along the ma chine from the member 95. Frame member 96 joins with the vertical frame members 81 and 82 and also with the vertical side frame member 12. The frame-member 97 is next in line and is attached to the members 83 and 84 as well as the other vertical side frame member 13. Frame member 98 is longitudinally spaced along the machine and joins the lower ends of the members 85 and 86 as well as the vertical side frame member 13. Frame member 99 is fastened to the bottoms of the frame members 87 and S8 and extends in the opposite direction for attachment to the vertical side frame member 12. Frame angle member 100 is attached to members 89 and 90 and parallels member 99 in attachment with frame member 12. The frame member 101 is in the same series of members and .joins the vertical frames 91 and 92 and thence extends across to a juncture with the frame member 13. Frame member 102 completes the transverse angle frame members joining the lower ends of the vertical members 93 and 94 as well as the-side member 13. Transverse angle frame member 103 extends across the top of the machine at the feed end and joins the vertical side members 12 and '13.

A pair of opposed and aligned pillow block bearings '104 and 105 are fixedly mounted on frame members 69 and 70 respectively. Longitudinally spaced apart pairs of pillow block bearings 106 and 107, 108 and 109, and 110 and 111 correspond to the bearings 104 and 105 and are positioned at intervals along the frame members 69 and 70. The pairs of bearings respectively journally carry shafts 112, 113, 114, and 115. The journalled shaft 112 has fixed thereto a large diameter wheel 116. Similarly the shaft 113 carries a large diameter wheel 117, the shaft 114 carries a large diameter wheel 118, and the shaft 115 carries a large diameter wheel 119. These wheels are positioned over the top flight surface 67 of the conveyor belt 50 and cooperate with the belt to elfect movement of the fibre stalks being treated. The wheel 116 has a hub 120, a rim 121, and an annular rubber tire 122. Spokes 123 are very thin and join the hub with the rim 121. The wheel 1 17 similarly is composed of hub 124, rim 125, rubber tire 126, and thin spokes 127. The large diameter wheel 118 is also constructed with a hub 128, a rim 129, a rubber peripheral tire 130, and hub and rim joining thin spokes 131. Similarly the large diameter Wheel contains a hub 132, a rim 133, an annular rubber tire 134, and radial thin spokes 135. The rubber tired wheel 116 defines the first concave trough 136 in the top surface 67 of the belt 50. The wheel 117 shapes the second undulation 137 in the belt surface, the wheel 118 makes the third undulation 138, and finall the fourth concave undulation 139 is made by the wheel 119. These undulations or transverse series of troughs constitute a very important feature of the fibre treating machine of this invention. It is within these successive troughs that the fibres are repeatedly washed or otherwise floated with treating liquids.

A longitudinally extending shaft 140 is positioned adjacent the side frame members 12. The shaft 140 is journally mounted in spaced apart pillow block bearings 141, 142, 143, and 144 which are mounted respectively on the spaced apart cross frame members 95 96, 99, and 100 as shown in Figure 5. A longitudinally extendingshortshaft 145 lies parallel to and spaced laterally from the long shaft 140. The shaft 145 is journally carried in spaced pillow block bearings 146 and 147 which are fixedly mounted on the frame members 95 and 96 respectively and in alignment with the bearings 141 and 142. A longitudinally spaced apart second short shaft 148 similarly lies parallel to the shaft 140 and in axial alignment with the short shaft 145. Theshort shaft 148 is journaled in pillow block bearings 149and 150 onthe frame members 99 and 100. These bearings are in alignment with the bearings 143 and 144in the samemanner as the bearings 146 and 147 are in alignment .with the bearings 141 and 142.

On the other side of the machine adjacent the side frame members 13 there is a longitudinally extending shaft 151 comparable to the shaft 140. The shaft 151 is journally .carn'ed in spaced apart pillow blockbearings 152, 153, 154, and 155 which in turn are fixedly mounted on the cross frame members 97, 98, 101, and 102. Lying parallel to the shaft 151 and spaced inwardly toward the center of the machine is a short shaft 156 which is journaled in pillow block bearings 157 and 158 on the frame members 97 and 98. The bearings 157 and 153 are in alignment with the bearings 152 and 153. A second short shaft 159 .lies in axial alignment withthe first short shaft 156 and also parallel With the long shaft 151. The shaft 159 is journally carried in pillow block bearings 160 and 161 on the cross frame members 101 and 1.02 in such a manner that :they are respectively in alignment with the bearings 154and 155.

Asprocket162is affixed to the-shaft140 within thefirst trough like undulation 136 on the main conveyor belt 50. .An aligned sprocket 163 is ,mounted on the shaft 145 ,and'a chain :164zis ,carriedabout the'spaced sprockets arse-mo 162 and 163. Paddles 165 are spaced about the endless chain 164 and when the chain is driven the paddles move transversely of the entire conveyor, but longitudinally within the first'undulation 136.

A sprocket 166 is joined to the shaft 151 and is in alignment with a sprocket 167 fixed to the spaced apart shaft 156. A chain 168 joins the sprockets 166 and 167 and similar to the chain 164 has regularly spaced apart paddles 169 fastened thereto for movement along the second trough like undulation 137 formed in the upper surface of the fibre conveying belt.

The third undulation 138 in the belt 50 is provided with a paddle conveyor means which includes a sprocket 170 on the shaft 140, a spaced apart aligned sprocket 171 on the shaft 148, a chain 172 draped around the spaced sprockets 170 and 171, and finally the spaced apart paddles 173 carried on the chain for movement through the trough.

A sprocket 174 is mounted on the shaft 151 in'the fourth longitudinally spaced undulation 139. An aligned spaced apart sprocket 175 is mounted on the shaft 159. The spaced sprockets are joined by a connecting chain 176 which is equipped with spaced paddles 177 for movement through the fourth trough or undulation.

A motor 178 is fixedly mounted on top of the machine frame between the cross top members 72 and 73. Bolt fastening means 179 and 180 tie the motor 178 to the frame members 72 and 73 respectively. A gear box 181 is carried on top of the fibre treating machine adjacent the motor 178. The inside details of the gear box have not been shown as they are relatively standard and form no separate part of the present invention. A clutch means 182 is interposed between the motor and gear box and it is apparent that the motor is the source of rotative power which imparts drive to the gear box 181 through the medium of the clutch 182. A shaft 183 is the output shaft of the gear box 181 and is disposed at right angles to the input driving clutch means 182. The shaft 183 is relatively long and is journally carried in the spaced apart pillow block bearing 184 along with its journal support in the gear box 181.

A first sprocket 185 is fixed to the driven shaft 183 and there successively follows in spaced apart position second and third sprockets 186 and 187 respectively on the shaft 183. A chain 188 extends around the first sprocket 185 and around a spaced apart aligned sprocket 189 which is carried on a shaft 190. A second gear box 191, the inside of which is not shown, has drive imparted thereto by the shaft 190. A driven shaft 192 projects outwardly from the gear box 191 at right angles to the input drive shaft 190.

A sprocket 193 is mounted on the driven shaft 192 and carries a chain 194. The other end of the chain is received by a sprocket 195 which is mounted on a shaft 196. A hanger bearing 197 is employed for journally receiving the shaft 196. A second sprocket 198 is carried on the shaft 196 and by reason of the chain 199 imparts drive to the sprocket 200. The sprocket 200 is carried on the roll shaft 21 for imparting drive to the wide endless flexible belt 50 in the direction of the arrow 201.

A chain 202 is carried by the second sprocket 186 on the shaft 183 and carries the motors rotational drive to the chain receiving sprocket 203. This sprocket is mounted on a shaft 204 which is journally carried between spaced apart pillow block bearings 205 and 206. The bearings are affixed to the spaced apart cross frame top members 73 and 74 respectively. A shaft 207 lying parallel to the shaft 204 is similarly carried in spaced pillow block bearings 208 and 209 on the top frame members 73 and '74. A sprocket 210 is mounted on the shaft 207 and engages the chain 202 and is driven thereby. A second sprocket 211 is fixed to and is driven by the shaft 207. A chain 212 imparts rotational drive from the sprocket 211 to a sprocket 213 which is mounted 8 on the shaft for thus driving both paddle conveyors within the first and third undulations 136 and 138 respectively of the endless fibre conveying belt 50.

A chain 214 is carried by the third sprocket 187 on the shaft 183 and delivers rotational drive to a spaced apart aligned sprocket 215 which is mounted on the shaft 151. This causes the driving of both paddle conveyors within the second and fourth undulations 137 and 139 respectively of the endless wide flexible belt 50.

A pipe 216 coming from a pump or the like (not shown) conveys the treating liquid therethrough to an end discharge pipe 217. An enlarged discharge opening 218 is provided on the end thereof for delivering liquid transversely of the belt 50 through the first trough undulation 136. Similarly the pipe 216 supplies treating liquid for a plurality of end discharge pipes and these are designated as 219, 220, and 221 which are spaced progressively rearwardly on the machine and in alignment with successive undulations 137, 138, and 139.

As best shown in Figure 4 an enlarged opening fitting 222 is provided on the discharge pipe 219 which directs and flows liquid through the thin spokes of the enlarged rubber tired wheel 117. The enlarged mouth of the end fitting insures that there will be a complete lack of liquid pressure as the treating liquid is discharged through the trough. The success of the machine depends to some extent upon the flowing of the liquid over the fibres to be treated as against impinging a stream of liquid thereover.

As best shown in Figures 2 and 4 a space 223 is provided between the side edge of belt 50 and the side frame members 13 to permit passage of the treating liquids to be washed over the side of the belt. A screen 224 is positioned within the opening 223 covering the liquid tank 11 for the purpose of filtering the liquid before it is returned to the liquid reservoir. A splash hopper 225 extends outwardly from the side of the machine adjacent the second undulated trough 137 and insures return of treating liquids to the reservoir. Similarly the first, third and fourth undulated troughs are provided with outwardly extending splash hoppers 226, 227, and 228 respectively. These splash hoppers are for the same purpose as the hopper 225 and guide washing or otherwise treating liquids back to the reservoir without any tendency to splash onto the floor on which the treating machine is placed.

The filtering screen 224 is equipped with a flat horizontal portion 229 and a downwardly and outwardly inclined portion 230. A receiving bracket 231 is affixed in the hopper 225 to carry the outer end of the inclined portion of the screen while the screen proper is carried by the longitudinally extending frame support 15.

The longitudinal sides of the liquid reservoir tank 11 at the bottom of the frame supporting structure 10 are fiared outwardly and upwardly at 232 on the one side and at 233 on the other side. The individual splash hoppers 225, 226, 227, and 228 telescope within and deliver liquid to the flared sides 232 and 233 for return of the liquid to the tank 11. Screens 234, 235, and 236 are provided within the splash hoppers 226, 227, and 228 in the same manner as screen 224 is fitted within the hopper 225 for the purpose of filtering out any foreign particles such as pulp which may be washed loose from the fibre stalks being treated. This enables the treating liquids to be used over and over in the treatment of successive batches of fibres.

A drain 237 is positioned within the bottom of the tank 11 for delivery of the treating liquid therethrough to a pipe 238 for passage to the pump (not shown) or other means to enable the liquid to be circulated and used in the washing or treating of fibres as they are fed transversely through the machine from the feed end of the conveyor 50.

As best shown in Figure 6 there is shown a paddle representative of the paddles shown on the transversely running floating conveyors and identified by numerals 1 65, 169, 173, and 177. The paddle of Figure 6 has an arcuate lower surface 2.39 which forms a part of a circle which is concentric with the surface of the trough like undulations formed in the surface of the belt 54 by the large diametered rubber tired wheels. The paddle is preferably made of tire carcass material wherein the rubber is reinforced by layers of fabric plies therein. A metal reinforcing strip 240 is riveted to the paddle tire carcass and supports a chain link bracket 241. The link 241 is fixedly fastened to the strip 240 in such a manner that it projects upwardly from the tire carcass body of the paddle in a direction opposite the arcuate lower surface 239 thereof. The chain link part 241 is adapted to fit in and become a part of the transversely running conveyor chains 164, 168, 172., and 176. This construction permits the arcuate lower surfaces of the paddles to pass through the concentric troughs within which the fibres are washed and treated with the liquids flowing thereover.

As best shown in Figure 7 there is shown a modified form of paddle 242 which consists of a drum or barrel portion 243 which has oppositely and outwardly tapered end portions 24-4 and 245. A bail member 246 is equipped with laterally spaced arms 247 and 248 for the purpose of journally receiving a shaft 249 on which is carried the barrel drum member 243. A chain type link 250 is affixed to the top of the bail member 246 and is adapted to be fastened within any one of the conveyor chains 164, 16 5, 1'72, and 176 in the same manner as the chain link 241 of the paddle of Figure 6. This modified form of paddle by reason of its rotary movement over the fibres being treated creates a minimum of friction and thus a minimum of tearing or undesired disturbance to the fibres while they are being degummed, washed, or bleached.

In the operation of the machine of this invention fibres 251 which have been preliminarily decorticated are laid transversely on the feed end of the wide flexible conveyor belt 50, and by reason of movement of the belt in the direction of the arrow 201 the decorticated fibres are carried along the belt for treatment in a plurality of steps or stages. The ends 252 of the decorticated fibres 251 are initially engaged and gripped by the large rubber tired wheel 116. The wheel 116 as previously described causes the surface of the belt 50 to assume a concave shape and thus it is evident that the wheel contacts the belt. The fibre ends 252 are thus gripped between the rubber tired annular surface of the wheel. and the top surface 67 of the belt 50. The belt is moved along the machine by operation .of the motor 178 and the suitable gearing mechanism therebetween. The fibres while moving with the belt 50 are subjected to a degumming treatment which consists in the flowing of degumming liquids transversely of the belt and along the several troughs formed in the surface of the belt. In the first undulated trough the degumming liquid is delivered through the narrow, thin spokes of the holding wheel 116 at a relatively slow speed. The paddles of the transversely running conveyors are arranged and constructed to be driven at a speed in excess of the velocity of the treating liquids and hence there is created alternating floods and valleys of treating liquid whereby the gums" and other foreign matter is floatedout of the fibres with the least amount of disturbance to the fibres. The :fibres are not brushed or rubbed, but rather are gently treated to effect a floating out of the undesirable gums by the alternate high and low .bodies of liquid passing over the full length of the fibres 251. The liquid movement being somewhat slower in velocity than the movement of the paddles causes liquid to build up in front of the paddles so that succeeding paddles tend to press the fibres with a minimum of liquid which gradually builds up. Because of the speed differential of the liquid and paddles the gums are floated out of the fibres. The fibresare then gripped at their other end designated by the. numeral 253 by the second rubber tired large diametered .wheel 117 which is transversely offset from'the first large holding wheel 116. The wheel 117 defines the second undulation 137 in the belt and as just stated holds the other end of the fibres to be treated too so that in fact the whole length of fibre may be and is equally treated. The same process is repeated in this second trough with the treating liquid directed in the opposite direction through the narrow spokes of the wheel 117 along and over the fibres 251 as they pass through this second undulation. Here again the washing or degumming liquid is floated over the fibres in peaks and valleys to wash the gums therefrom. The third large wheel 118 defining the third undulation and also the third stage of treatment is'in longitudinal alignment with the first large wheel 116 and thus grips the ends 252 of the fibres and the degumming, washing, or bleaching treatment is repeated in the same manner as in the. first trough. The fourth large wheel 112 is laterally offset from the first and third wheels and is in longitudinal alignment with the second wheel in the second belt undulation. The washing of the fibres is occasioned by the flowing of the treating liquid through the wheels thin spokes and over the fibres which are positively gripped at their ends by the large rubber tired wheel. The thinness of the wheel spokes avoids disturbing the flow of treating liquid through the trough and similarly the large discharge ends of the liquid pipes eliminates the delivery of the liquid in an impinging stream. The path of the liquidis thus confined to a single trough and it is flowed into and along the trough very slowly. The paddles whether they be of the type shown in either Figure 6 or Figure 7 cause a separation of the flowing liquid into swells and shallows which contributes to an easy and successful degumming. washing, and/or bleaching of the fibres being treated. it is obvious that the desired :treatment requires appropriate treating liquids which do not constitute a part of the present invention. However, the machine works equally well for any one of the three treatments described.

After the fibres have been treated in the four undulations of the conveyor belt 54 they come to the discharge end thereof. The treated fibres pass beneath the spring pressed roll-51 and they are squeezed along their length to cause a discharging of any treating liquids remaining therein after their passage through the several stages of liquid washing. The discharge end of the belt 50 identified as 254 carries the washed and wrung fibres whereupon they may be manually removed or allowed to fall by gravity into a receiving container or the like (not shown).

A screen 256 is positioned within the reservoir tank 11 to aid in filtering the treating liquid before it is returned to the circulating pump through the drain 237. The liquid is preferably pre-heated before it is flowed over the fibres to be treated. In order to accomplish this liquid heating an electrical heater coil 261 is disposed within the liquid reservoir tank 11 and is energized by connection to a source of electrornotive-force as shown at 262. Thus the treating liquid is heated within the reservoir prior to its circulation through the machine.

It is apparent .that herein is provided a novel fibre treating machine which is adaptable to the several jobs of .degumming, washing, or bleaching. The machine treatment is easy on the fibres yet effectively performs its functionof complete washing by the treating liquid. Further the fibres are equally treated over their full lengths and successively and alternately treated from one end and ,then the other end.

Numerous details of construction may be varied throughout a wide range without departing from'the principles disclosed herein and we therefore .do not propose limiting the patent granted hereon otherwise than as'necessitated by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A fibre treating machine comprising a supporting structure, a relatively wide continuous surface flexible endless belt carried on said supporting structure and defining an upper flight and a lower flight, means driving said belt, rolls journaled on said supporting structure and positioned between the upper and lower flights of the belt, said rolls extending transversely of said wide belt and substantially uniformly spaced lengthwise along said belt, relatively large diameter wheels journally mounted on said supporting structure above said belt, one of said large diameter wheels positioned longitudinally between each pair of adjacent rolls, the axes of rotation of the rolls and the large diameter wheels being parallel to each other, said wheels being alternately spaced adjacent opposite sides of the belt, said wheels arranged and constructed in such a manner that the lower surfaces engage the upper flight of the belt and cause the upper belt flight to assume an undulated path, whereby when fibers are fed transversely along the upper flight of the belt they will be alternately gripped at opposite ends by the alternately spaced large diameter wheels as the fibres move through successive depressions in the undulated upper flight of the belt, and means for treating the end gripped fibres in each of said depressions.

2. A device as set forth in claim 1 in which the means for treating the fibres comprises means for flowing liquids transversely of said belt in each of said depressions, the direction of the liquid flowing being alternately opposite in successive depressions, said means for flowing liquids located adjacent each of said large diameter wheels and directed to the side of the belt opposite each of the wheels.

3. A device as set forth in claim 2 in which paddle means are carried on said supporting structure, said paddle means arranged to engage the depressions in said belt, and means driving said paddle means transversely of said belt through said depressions and over said end gripped fibres and away from said gripping wheel.

4. A device as set forth in claim 3 in which there is included means driving the paddle means at a speed somewhat greater than the speed of flowing liquid whereby the diflerential in speeds of paddle means and liquid flow causes liquid to build up in front of each of said paddle means.

5. A device as set forth in claim 4 in which the paddle means includes an endless chain transversely disposed over each of said belt depressions, and spaced paddles carried on said endless chains.

6. A device as set forth in claim 5 in which the paddle means comprise flexible pads with a lower edge curved to conform to the curvature of the belt upper flight undulation depressions.

7. A device as set forth in claim 5 in which the paddle means comprise rollers with a large central diameter and small outer end diameters whereby the belt engaging lower surface substantially conforms to the curvature of the belt upper flight undulation depressions.

8. A device as set forth in claim 2 in which said means for flowing liquids comprises a liquid reservoir, discharge pipes joined with said liquid reservoir, said discharge pipes positioned on the outside of each of said large diameter wheels and directed at said wheels whereby the 10 liquid is flowed through said wheels and along fibres gripped thereby.

9. A device as set forth in claim 8 in which said large diameter wheels are provided with a minimum number of very thin spokes whereby the liquid is not materially impeded passing through said wheels.

10. A device as set forth in claim 2 in which liquid receiving means are provided adjacent said endless belt at the outer end of each of said depressions in the undulated upper flight.

11. A device as set forth in claim 1 in which the large diameter wheels are rubber tired.

12. A fibre treating machine comprising a wide endless belt, an elongated concave trough formed transversely in said wide endless belt, means for moving fibres transversely across said trough with the fibres lying lengthwise of said trough, narrow wheel means for gripping the fibres against said wide endless belt at one end of the trough, said narrow wheel means having a circumference concentric with said trough, and means flowing liquid over said fibres and longitudinally through said trough.

13. A device as set forth in claim 12 in which the concave trough is relatively shallow and the narrow wheel means for gripping the fibres at one end thereof comprises a large diameter wheel.

14. A device as set forth in claim 12 in which the means flowing the liquid comprises a liquid reservoir, a conduit leading to said concave trough, and an enlarged discharge fitting at the end of said conduit adjacent said narrow wheel means substantially centrally of the trough, said discharge fitting directed lengthwise of said elongated trough and adapted to deliver liquid through said narrow wheel means.

15. A device as set forth in claim 14 in which the means flowing the liquid further includes a conveyor means disposed lengthwise of said trough, and said conveyor means having regular spaced paddles thereon arranged and constructed with an underedge curvature substantially coincident with the concavity of the trough, and means driving said paddles lengthwise through said trough and over the liquid covered fibres being treated therein.

16. A device as set forth in claim 15 in which the means driving the conveyor means and their paddles includes means driving the paddles at a speed in excess of the speed of liquid flowed over said fibres whereby alternately deep and shallow liquids are provided over the fibres and the constantly changing positions of said liquid depth contribute to eflicient fibre treatment.

17. A device as set forth in claim 15 in which the regularly spaced paddles comprise rollers with a large central diameter and small outer end diameters.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,258,571 Humphrys Mar. 5, 1918 2,080,635 Schramek May 18, 1937 2,406,109 Schellenberg Aug. 20, 1946 FOREIGN PATENTS 116,129 Great Britain May 27, 1918 

